Does anyone else find it strange how the minister is constantly grabbing his chest? Also, do you remember the end of chapter ten, The Leech and His Patient, when Chillingworth saw something on the minister's chest and then rejoiced? What do you guys think all of this means??
I did find it quite strange but I believe he places his hand in his chest to hide his sin or even his Scarlet letter. Dimmesdale has not been good of health therefore, his sin is bring him down. Chillingworth rejoiced maybe because he has found who the lover was.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dayanna, I think that he has made his own Scarlet letter. In chapter 11 we learned that Dimmesdale whipped himself as punishment for his sins. It is likely that while he was doing so, he could've permanently whipped an "A" on his chest.
ReplyDeleteOn page 45, when the women were gossiping about Hester one said: "Let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart."
Likewise, Dimmesdale, her accomplice in the sinful act, must've felt the "pang" of guilt in his heart as well, which is why he holds his heart; the guilt is too much for him. He can't hide his secret for much longer and in an act fueled by angst and inner turmoil, he could've easy made his own letter on his chest; the center of all his pain.
I agree with Dayanna, in that he has over time developed a scarlet letter of his own, figuratively and invisible to those who do not know his secret.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the fact that Dimmesdale has a invisible scarlet letter that he has gotten from not revealing his sin.
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